ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. — The first time Texans running back Steve Slaton touched the ball Sunday, on a dump pass from Matt Schaub, he cradled it in both hands well before he collided with Buffalo cornerback Terrence McGee.

Slaton's propensity to fumble this season — he had lost four, twice as many as all of last year — had become a worry for the Texans, and the NFL's 2008 rookie rushing champion seemed determined to put the problem behind him. But he hadn't.

Two series later, after fielding another short pass from Schaub, he got the ball swatted loose, and that was the end of his workday.

Three-touchdown day

Benched in favor of Ryan Moats, Slaton must be wondering if he'll get his starting job back. The previously little-used Moats wasn't in a sharing mood against the Bills. He rushed for 126 yards and three fourth-quarter touchdowns as the Texans overwhelmed the Bills 31-10.

In not quite 7½ seasons, no Texan had scored three touchdowns in a game, much less the same quarter.

“Ryan took advantage of the situation,” coach Gary Kubiak said, although he demurred when asked if Moats is the new starter. “We'll go to next week. We'll see.”

Moats, signed by the Texans as a free agent before last season after being out of football in 2007 while he rehabbed a broken ankle suffered as a second-year Philadelphia Eagle, received a game ball for his efforts and an invitation to speak to the media from the podium Schaub and receiver Andre Johnson would use.

A star is born?

Playing for the team

“I tried to step in and do the best I could, to help the team win a game,” Moats said. “It has been a hard road. I have been waiting to be called on and I knew that time would come. I just prepare myself every week running as hard as I can in practice. I try to give it everything I have. That's what I'm all about.”

Moats insisted he never got caught up in the stats he was accumulating as Schaub kept calling his number. He carried 23 times, averaging 5.5 yards. He also caught two passes for 25 yards. The touchdowns, which almost doubled his career total, came on runs of 11, 1 and 3 yards.

“You just take it one step at a time, one situation at a time,” said the Eagles' former third-round pick out of Dallas' Bishop Lynch High School and Louisiana Tech. “If it's 3 yards, you think about getting 3 yards. I play the game to keep the offense on the field.”

Possession game

Moats contributed in that regard. The Texans hogged the ball for more than 22 minutes of the second half with him carrying the brunt of the load.

“Ryan went out and did the stuff we see him do in practice,” Schaub said. “He's a hard worker and he understands what we're trying to get done in the running game. He's an intelligent guy. (The blockers) gave him holes to work with, and he made the right reads. He was always falling forward, breaking tackles, getting extra yards.”

“He's got a great burst,” Winston said. “He gets through (the hole) almost before the defense sees him.”

Reduced to spectating, Slaton said he “gave 100 percent supporting my team,” but it had to have been difficult.

“It's definitely frustrating,” he said when asked about the fumble, one of three turnovers by the Texans in a sloppy first quarter. “You always want to be out there helping your team win, but we rode the hot hand and Moats had a great game.”